Background: Urinary tract infections are the most frequent hospital-acquired infections. A majority is catheter-associated and the main risk factor is the duration of catheterization. Early removal is therefore a priority. Treatment with alpha-blockers in men with acute urinary retention due to prostatic disease increases the rate of successful early catheter removal. No intervention has been studied in elderly women in whom urinary retention is usually favored by an acute health issue. However, alpha-blockers have proved effective in other circumstances, as the prevention of acute urinary retention after hysterectomy and the treatment of chronic voiding disorders.